The late Charles Kuralt called Nebraska’s Highway 2 “one of America’s 10 most beautiful highways” exclaiming, “This road will take you to one of the last unexplored frontiers where vast treasures can be discovered.”

For the last six years, volunteers along 272 miles of Nebraska Highway 2, what is known as the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway (SJSB) between Grand Island and Alliance have encouraged visitors to enjoy the vast treasures of art inside and out during their ‘Follow the Rails Art Trail tour.’

This self-guided tour, always in October showcases the myriad of artistic mediums from the residents and guests as well as the fantastic fall foliage along the way.

“This year we had 14 communities that hosted 36 sites dedicated to the arts from the usual paintings, pottery, woodworking, photography to the unusual – floral, culinary including wines, beers and honey to the musical talents of locals,” stated SJSB president Linda Lacy, Ashby. The communities this year from east to west included Grand Island, Cairo, Ravenna, Mason City, Ansley, Broken Bow, Merna, Anselmo, Thedford, Mullen, Hyannis, Ashby, Antioch and Alliance.

Lacy went on to exclaim the appreciation to the various sponsors that helped make this Follow the Rails Art Trail or FRAT as it is lovingly referred to by the byway volunteers, the best yet. “Radio stations KAAQ/KCOW from Alliance and KBEAR 92.3 in Broken Bow did fantastic jobs of getting our ads out. I and others did live interviews on their stations as well as NPR, Nebraska Public Radio. KCOW did live remote at the opening reception at the Knight Museum in Alliance. KBEAR sponsored the first ever ‘Bow Arts in the Square’ in Broken Bow which had five vendors for its first time. Gaylean Millsap of Broken Bow was the coordinator and should be commended for her effort. Charity Adams, Cairo, also should be recognized as she did the social media posts, FRAT brochures, website and put together our guide book.”

For the first time ever, opening receptions at Stuhr Museum in Grand Island and the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in Alliance kicked off FRAT Thursday evening before its three official days of October 14 to 16. The Hyannis School again ran a one day bus from Hyannis to Alliance and back on the 15th. Also for the first time, a van load of five paid for the chance to take the tour and leave the driving to Bill Burdett of Cairo. Burdett does ‘Horizons without Borders’, offering amazing agri adventure tours for a van or bus load. “FRAT may not be my usual tour offering, but we had a great time and saw a lot of amazing art. I made five new friends as did the byway. The van riders were also the official judges for the student organizations that did bale art during FRAT. Lodging and meals were all inclusive in the cost and all five would recommend doing this art tour again, some want to come next year in their own vehicles. We made it to all 36 sites which was a little rushed, but we didn’t want to miss anything.”

The next major event for the SJSB will be the Polar Bear Tank Race at Mullen the first weekend of March 2017. Go to www.sandhillsjourney.com for more details on that.

Each spring something magical happens in the Platte River Valley: More than 80% (500,000+) of the world’s population of Sandhill Cranes converge on this critical sliver of threatened habitat. Millions of migrating ducks and geese arrive with them.

National Geographic named this annual migration event as one of North America’s two greatest natural wildlife phenomena, the other being Alaska’s Caribou migration. In 2014, the Crane Trust documented that a Platte River sandbar on their property serves as the largest crane roost in the world during the sandhill cranes’ spring migration. This one-of-a-kind experience draws beginning birders to scientists from across the country and across the globe.

The month of March is the best time to see the largest numbers of birds, although the peak of the crane migration occurs during the second half of the month. Towards the end of March, you might also catch a glimpse of endangered Whooping Cranes or venture into the Sandhills to watch the colorful mating rituals of the Prairie Chickens.

Nebraska is special to me. I’ve traveled far and wide, and coming to Nebraska, and seeing and hearing the cranes always restores my soul. — Jane Goodall

CaLinda’s Pot Shop & Art Gallery will be a vendor at the Cattleman’s Ball on June 4th at Princeton, Ne. The Ball is to raise money for the UNL Buffet Cancer Center to help research a Cure for Cancer. Come visit CaLinda’s Pot Shop, a Byway member, in the Art Tent!

Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway Introduces New Nature Trail

The Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway Visitor/Interpretive Center in Broken Bow is happy to announce the addition of an exciting new educational trail, the Sandhills Journey Nature Trail. The public is invited to an Open House on Friday, June 17, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (CT) to share in the celebration of this new outdoor experience. A short program and ribbon cutting will be held at 1:00 p.m. “The trail will give visitors a chance to learn more about the history, geography, culture, and wildlife of the Sandhills at their leisure when the Visitor Center is closed,” says Rick Maas, chairman of the Custer County Tourism Committee and coordinator for the volunteers that operate the SJSB Visitor Center during the tourism season.

The nature trail, approximately one-half mile in length, begins just south of the Visitor Center. It winds through grassland prairie, past native grass plots, a pond, a working windmill, butterfly garden, and climbs to an observation deck on the hilltop south of the Visitor Center for a panoramic view of the valley below.

There are seven colorful and informative panels along the trail with smartphone technology allowing users to access information with a quick swipe of the QR code on each sign. There is a welcome sign orienting visitors to the area and the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway (NE Hwy 2, between Grand Island and Alliance). The second stop on the trail is the nature trail panel which outlines the world-class natural wonders of the Sandhills. Another tells the story of the formation of the Sandhills, while others describe the history, culture, and laws that help influence the settlement of the Sandhills. There is also a panel about the wildlife of the Great Plains, birds, and the miracle of migration. The final panel, located at the Observation Deck, is one-third of a mile from the Visitor Center. The panel at this location was provided by Sempra Energy and features the technological advances that changed the Sandhills over the years.

The Nature Trail is part of a plan which began in 2012 when the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway received a Federal Highway Transportation Grant and initiated a project with Ted Eubanks of Fermata to provide an in-depth interpretive plan. The resulting plan encompasses a unique set of stories related to the qualities that makes the byway distinctive, and connects specific sites to themes and corresponding storylines. The panels along the Nature Trail illustrate this vision. Fermata provided the insight, photography, design and production, working with the Nebraska Department of Roads, Custer County Economic Development, the U.S. Forest Service, and Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway representatives.

In addition to the panels at the Visitor Center in Broken Bow, the project provided for a panel at the Nebraska National Forest/Bessey Ranger District near Halsey. This panel is placed at the center of the pedestrian bridge which crosses the Middle Loup River between the Ranger Station and the fishing pond. This informative panel describes the unique nature of Prairie Rivers.

The Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway Visitor Center is located east of Broken Bow at 44106 NE Hwy 2. Look for the big Red Barn – phone (308) 872-8331. The Barn is open May – September and the Nature Trail is open year-round. There is also an accessible covered picnic shelter available. The ‘Barn’ is becoming a popular place to book for reunions or special events as plenty of parking is available. Contact Rick Maas for more information or call the Chamber office in Broken Bow at 308-872-5691.CE

2016 NGLC-Sandhills Task Force-Audubon Grazing and Birding Tour

The Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition (NGLC) is once again hosting a summer grazing tour which will be held on June 14th in the Nebraska Sandhills near Thedford. The NGLC has partnered with the Sandhills Task Force and Nebraska Audubon to bring ranchers and bird enthusiasts together to learn more about successful grazing practices, Sandhill ranch heritage, indigenous and migratory birds, and wildlife habitat. Proper grazing in the Sandhills provides income for ranch businesses, wildlife and bird habitat, vegetation diversity, and increased water quality and quantity. Come learn grazing strategies from area ranchers as well as information about birds and habitat from statewide experts.

The full day event will kick off with an optional birding route, followed by registration and breakfast, three ranch visits, and an evening banquet with a special guest speaker. We will be visiting the Eatinger Ranch, Reed Hamilton Ranch, and the Dailey Angus Ranch. Please visitwww.SandhillsTaskForce.org to read about the ranches, explore the agenda, download the brochure, and register online. A brochure is also attached to this email.

The SJSB will receive $5,000 for updating/reprinting the SJSB brochures, postcards, and rack cards.

Nebraska Tourism Commission announces 2016 Tourism Marketing Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LINCOLN, Neb. (May 18, 2016)— The Nebraska Tourism Commission today announced 24 tourism marketing grant awards totaling $250,000 for entities across the state. The Tourism Marketing Grant Program is very competitive and involves a selection committee of grant reviewers from both the private and public sectors. During this grant cycle, the Commission received proposals from 37 applicants requesting more than $400,000 in funding. The funds are awarded to organizations to promote attractions and activities throughout the state of Nebraska.

Getting to the great outdoors, no matter the season, can be a great vacation. But sometimes your packing list can easily get out of control, especially in places like Western Nebraska where the weather can be fickle. You want to always be prepared, but you don’t want to be bogged down. Anytime you’re planning an outdoor adventure your main concern should be staying dry and comfortable while keeping the amount of stuff you have to haul to a minimum, especially if you’re the one hauling it.

Overall Plan: If you’ll be spending a significant amount of time outdoors during your next adventure, layers that fold up easily can be a lifesaver. If you’re camping, are you operating out of a car or truck? Or are you loading everything into a pack and hoofing it into the backcountry? If you’re packing in you’ll want a backpack, preferably one that’s ultra-light with an internal frame, but you already knew that because you’re the type of person who backpacks into the backcountry. If you’re car camping you’ll still want a pack, maybe just a daypack, but you’ll want a handy way to keep all of your essentials in one place.

What’s Essential? While blue jeans may seem like the ultimate outdoor outfit, they can get wet and heavy. It’s better to get pants that shed water, or can be converted into shorts. A pair of tights or long underwear can easily add an extra layer. Look for T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts and hoodies or fleeces made from breathable, synthetic fabric that will wick sweat better than cotton. Don’t forget to pack an emergency poncho or some other form of rain gear to protect from sudden storms. Your footwear will depend on what kind of activities you are doing. Lightweight hiking shoes or boots can handle many conditions, but you might need something sturdier for rockier trails. If your trip involves kayaking, canoeing, or tanking, water shoes can be a great investment. Of course do not forget bug spray and sunscreen. Pack multiple pairs of non-cotton hiking socks to keep your feet dry, lightweight wool is best. Band-aids, moleskin, and duct tape can go a long way toward keeping blisters, cuts, and scrapes from ruining your outdoor fun throw in some Neosporin just in case.

If you’re heading into a more remote area make sure you have enough water, bring a flashlight and be sure to check in with the Rangers.

The great thing about getting away in the Sandhills isn’t what you need to bring, it’s what you get to leave at home. You won’t need any dress clothes, don’t bother with electronics other than a flashlight and a cell phone and feel free to turn off the phone and stash it in your glove box. Just be ready to have a great time, come out the Sandhills and find your next adventure.

For some reason tanking seems to be a uniquely Nebraskan activity. I’ve been informed that there is some tanking activity in other Midwestern states but I’m going to choose to ignore it and focus on the great tanking that’s available on the Middle Loup River.

For those of you who don’t know about tanking, it’s like tubing, canoeing and kayaking in that you go from point A to point B on a river. Unlike those activities you accomplish that travel in a cattle tank. It is superior to all of those other activities for several very important reasons. Tanking is better than tubing because you don’t actually have to get in the water, which makes this a great option even when water temperatures are what we’ll call “sub-optimal.” People happily go tanking even when it’s cold out because Midwesterners are brave and hardly folk who refuse to let a little cold water stop their fun. Tanking is superior to using a canoe or kayak because it’s almost impossible to capsize a cattle tank. In addition to being stable they require a staggeringly small amount of effort. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy the ability to have a great time while being lazy at times.

This is where The Sandhills Motel & Glidden Canoe Rental come into play. They will set you up with all the tanks you need for a trip and you can choose a two-hour or five-hour trip. (NOTE: All times more or less approximate because tanking is not designed for a strict schedule.) So grab some friends, or loved ones, or mortal enemies, whatever floats your boat. Combine those people with refreshment and sunscreen (sunscreen is vital) and get ready for a great time on the river without any of that annoying “effort” or “physical fitness” that can be required by other modes of transportation.

If you’d like to find out more about tanking trips in the Sandhills go to http://www.gliddencanoerental.com/ and book your trip.